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Orlando passes new marijuana ordinance 4-3

Orlando leaders have voted in favor of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. The City Council voted 4-3 for the measure Monday afternoon. The ordinance is set to take effect Oct. 1. Greg Fox reports.

Orlando leaders have voted in favor of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. The City Council voted 4-3 for the measure Monday afternoon. The ordinance is set to take effect Oct. 1. Greg Fox reports.

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Updated: 9:23 PM EDT May 9, 2016

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WEBVTT GREG FOX IS LIVE. REPORTER: THIS WAS A VERY CLOSE VOTE. 4-3 LAST MONTH. TODAY, THAT GOT BUMPED UP TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS. AND IT ALSO INCLUDES PROVISIONS TO COVER THE PENALTY IF THEY ARE LOW INCOME. >> NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THEIR LIVES RUINED BECAUSE THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF A SMALL AMOUNT OF A PLANT THAT IS SAFER THAN ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO LINED UP BEFORE COUNCIL, SUPPORTED ORLANDO'S MARIJUANA ORDINANCE. IT WOULD GIVE POLICE THE OPTION, WHEN PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT WITH 20 GRAMS OR LESS OF CANNABIS, TO ISSUE A $100 TICKET FOR FIRST OFFENSES AND $200 FOR SECOND OFFENSES. POLICE MAY ALSO GIVE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY, THE OPTION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE OR DRUG EDUCATION. KOREY WHEELER, ORGANIZE NOW IT'S NOT WORTH DESTROYING FAMILY LIVES AND HURTING THE POSSIBILITIES OF HIGHER EDUCATION, APPLYING FOR JOBS, STATE FUNDING OR HOUSING. ACCORDING TO POLICE, MORE THAN 2,000 ADULTS AND JUVENILES WERE ARRESTED DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS, FOR CRIMES THAT INCLUDED POSSESSION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF CANNABIS. THOUGH ORANGE COUNTY'S CLERK REPORTS JUST 206 CASES IN THE PAST YEAR IN WHICH THE ONLY CHARGE WAS POSSESSION OF 20 GRAMS OR LESS. OPPONENTS OF THE ORDINANCE INCLUDED THE OWNER OF WESTGATE RESORTS, WHO LOST HIS DAUGHTER TO A DRUG OVERDOSE, AND CALLS CANNABIS A GATEWAY DRU >> HOW ARE WE GOING TO STOP THIS? WE'VE GOT TO KEEP KIDS FROM USING MARIJUANA. WE HAVE TO PENALIZE THEM. BUT THE ACLU ARGUED, THE ORDINANCE BALANCES OUT OF SYSTEM OF, WHAT HE CALLS, INJUSTICE THAT NOW CURRENTLY SEES FOUR TIMES AS MANY BLACKS AS WHITES BEING BUSTED FOR CANNABIS POSSESSION. >> OUR DRUG LAWS AND POLICIES NEED TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY REWORKED, AND THIS ORDINANCE I

Orlando passes new marijuana ordinance 4-3

Orlando leaders have voted in favor of decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana. The City Council voted 4-3 for the measure Monday afternoon. The ordinance is set to take effect Oct. 1. Greg Fox reports.